Card tutorial!

Today, my card tutorial will be featured over at Vanilla Joy!

Every day I'm improving my card making skills. It definitely doesn't happen over night! One technique I really think is classy, sewing on card stock.

Anyways, I was doing dishes, and remembered the cookie cutters (a gingerbread man, and a Christmas tree) my mother in law sent us last year for Christmas. Lord knows I never use them, so I thought they'd be better in my scrap room!



My mother in law was happy to hear they were being used- she didn't expect them to be used as stencils, but as long as they were being used she said! I had an empty cereal box kicking around, so I decided to trace the cookie cutters onto the cardboard.



I used my Thyme colored dew drop to ink the tree.



Once that was completed I started digging through my stash and found these papers:



I decided on Flannel Shirt by Basic Grey. I picked up some red, polka dotted paper also by Basic Grey called Snowfall Cranberry, and solid green paper. The collection I used has been discontinued, however, you could use any type of paper, and pattern.

I used my mini mister (filled with water) mixed with Perfect Pearls and sprayed the entire tree. Because you're spraying cardboard with water, it's going to curl. So, I used my heat gun to dry it and it flattened right out. DO NOT PANIC IF IT CURLS. If you don't have a heat gun, you can use a hair dryer.







Then I used my Walnut Stain distress ink and my blending tool to ink the edges of both pieces of paper and the tree.





Then I got out my sewing machine, which I hadn't used in more than three years. Thankfully, it worked with little effort! I measured one centimeter from the edge, and marked it with a pencil. I connected all the dots, so I had a line to trace while sewing it. (I tried hand sewing, it was miserable.)



Then I put a button at the top of the tree, adhered the tree to the card, and applied a thin layer of glossy accents on top of the tree to 'lock' the Perfect Pearls in place. Also to, make it pretty of course! (This photo was taken before the tree dried, however, glossy accents does dry clear.)



Here are a few pictures of the finished product.





I got the "Merry Christmas" sentiment from Cloud 9, and the ribbon is from JoAnn Fabrics.

The measurements of the card are, 4.5X4.5 and the inside layer of is cut at 3.5X3.5.

As promised!

Here are two projects done with the Christmas tags!

Here is a card- I altered the color of the tag, and added part of a Christmas song to it. You can easily alter the color of any element on the tag to match anything on your page, or in a photo. Also, the font can be changed.

When working with ink, I'm a mess! I did end up getting some on the tag. Had the tags been printed on card stock instead of regular paper, I would have been able to use an eraser to remove the ink. However, I didn't want to take any chances. NOTE TO SELF: Print on card stock, always!





You can see I changed the photo of the circle to match the button. I also used the same ink on the Christmas tree and the tag.


Another thing I have been dying to do... a snow globe! Poor Alex, has been washing and cleaning baby jars for the last two weeks now. I think I have finally acquired enough to make one for everyone in my family, and then some!

Anyways, I took the number 15 tag and cut off the one! I love the curly look of the five, and since there are five people in our family, I thought it was well suited! So this is what it looks like!

Don't you just love the number five! I covered it with some Glossy Accents, and then sprinkled a little bit of Martha Stewart's glitter on top of the glossy accents.


Then I got smart! I used the index print from the pictures I had ordered, and cut out my three favorite one of each of the kids! Then I used glue dots to secure them in place.


Applied glossy accents... (still wet, but it DOES dry CLEAR!)


And voila!


I have to cover the lid, but you get the jest! To cover the lid you could use paper, or for a more polished look you could use some batting and fabric. Use pinking sheers to cut the ends so they don't fray. OR you can use some fray check.


It's not exactly as I want it so I will make another one tomorrow using a different jar as you cannot see the photos of the kids with the lines in the baby food jar. I think all of Alex's hard work cleaning the jars will have to be used for a different cause, glass candy maybe?

Mmmm... Can't wait to make candy!

Well I'm off to bed, feeling alright. Though I haven't been talking much as I feel like I have lock jaw. My inner ear is starting to hurt as well. No fever however, haven't lost my appetite, darn it! My jaw really doesn't even hurt... it just feels... tight. Though I swear I'm more swollen today then I was yesterday. The house is quiet with out my talking, laughing, and being crazy with the girls. They haven't had any singing all day either. My poor girls are deprived of my voice! And they are probably enjoying every second of it!